Tab pulling machine



Oct. 17, 1950 HYDE 2,525,904

TAB PULLING MACHINE H. H. HYDE TAB PULLING MACHINE Oct. 17, 1950 3 Sheeizs-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1945 H. H. HYDE TAB PULLING MACHINE Oct. 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 23, 1945 Patented Oct. 17, 1950 TAB PULLING MACHINE Harry H. Hyde, Chicago, Ill. Application June 23, 1945, Serial No. 601,299

1 Claims. (01. 101 1) This invention relates to pulling machines, and particularly to a pulling machine for removing tabs and the like from carriers such as printing plates.

One class of printing machinery utilizes a printing plate adapted to be inserted in the machine to print an address or other suitable material. Such plates may be stored in accordance with an index system or stacked in a pile to be fed to and run through, the printing machine and impressions taken from the plate.

It is often desirable to print from only certain plates orcertain predetermined classes of plates. One method is to remove from the pile in which the plates are stacked, only those from which impressions are not to be made, and feed the remainder to the machine. This, of course, necessitates disrupting the sequence of the plates. Another method is to so control the printing mechanism that all of the plates may be fed to the machine, but the printing mechanism is so controlled by the plates themselves that impressions will be taken only from those' plates from which it is desired that impressions be made. In this method the printing plates may be retained in their regular order, and the labor of selecting and removing from the stack those plates which are not to be printed is eliminated.

Printing plates which themselves control the operation of the printing machine are well known in the art, and :an efficient system of tab controls has been devised whereby suitable pockets are provided in the printing plate to receive tabs which actuate the printing mechanism. A number of pockets are provided, and the location of the tabdetermines the printing operation to be performed. The tabs are held in place in the printing plate pockets b locking mechanism such as a spring tongue which engages a portion of the plate to prevent withdrawal of the tab, it being necessary to disengage the spring tongue before the tab can be withdrawn.

Where the number of plates from which impressions are to be taken is small and their use infrequent, it isfeasible to remove the tabs by hand when it is desired to discontinue the operadvantages of such devices have residedin the fact that the tab-pulling operation has been have suffered frequent damage therefrom, quiring repairs or replacement.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the previous methods employed, and

has for an object theprovision of a machine incorporating mechanism for automatically releasing the locking device which holds the tab in the printing plate, and then withdraws the tab and deposits .it in a receptacle, the operation being repeated as rapidly as printing plates are,

fed to the machine.

Another object is to provide in a tab pulling mechanism a reciprocating gripper for seizing and withdrawing a tab from a printing plate,

wherein lost motion is provided between the drive means for the reciprocating mechanism and the gripper to periodically immobilize the gripper.

Another object is to provide a tab pulling machine including a work holder to receive the plate the tab from the plate to permit the removal thereof by the gripper and puller. A further object is to provide atab pulling machme having a tab gripper and puller, a work holder for receiving a tab-carrying plate or the like, anindicator, and means for adjusting the work holder .to indicated positions with the, tab

in operative position with respect to the gripper and puller.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an end elevation of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention,

showing the movablework holder and guide, and i the indicator for adjusting the work holder to the desired position,

Figure 2is a plan view illustrating the apparatus of the present invention with the reciprocable operating mechanism in one of its" operating positions,

Figure 3 is a partial plan view showing the reciprocable operating mechanism in another of its positions,

Figure l is a side elevationof the entire device with a portion of the combination support and housing cutaway to indicate the driving con-Q nection between the motor andthe reciprocable mechanism, and with a printing plate in position to be inserted in the work holder,

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure Figure 6 shows the tripping element or tab carried by the printing plate,

Figure '7 is a sectional view of a printing plate with a control tab carried thereby, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of a portion of the tab pulling mechanism, showing the trigger and gripper jaws in position for releasing and withdrawing the tab from the printing plate.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a combination support and housing comprising a rectangular box having side walls 2 and 3, end walls fl and 5, a base 6 and a cover 7 member 71'. End wall 6; projects upwardly above the cover l and has adjacent its upper end a bracket 8 which serves to seat the upper ends of a pair of spaced posts 9, the lower ends of which are anchored to the base 6. Cover 7 has a cut-out portion to accommodate the posts 9, and a carrier M is provided having openings to receive the posts for vertical sliding movement thereon. I

Carri-er ll comprises a pair of blocks 62 and it having amxed therebetween the upper ends of a pair 01 laterally spaced, vertically extending guides M which projectthrough an opening in end wall t and are laterally flared in the manner indicatedin Figures 1 and 2. The lower ends of guides M are secured to a second carrier 56 (see Figure 5) which is similar in structure to carrier H and has openings for the sliding reception of posts 9. Likewise affixed to carrier I6 is a platform H which projects outwardly from end wall d at right angles thereto, and, with guides M, assists incorrectly positioning a printing device or. plate [8 with respect to the tap gripping and pulling mechanism, as will hereinafter appear. Also attached to the upper carrier H by bolts i3 is a member 211 having a laterally extending pointer 2i for movement over a numbered indicator 22 on the end wall 4.

Movement of the pointer 2! over the indicator to the various positions marked thereon is accomplished by the machine operator grasping the guide it and sliding it vertically on the posts 9. The guide is held in-the selected position by a detent mechanism including a vertically extending strap 23, pivoted medially of its ends upon a bolt 2% carried by end wall a. The upper end of strap 23 is provided with a bolt 25 extending through end wall 4 and laterally movable in a slot 263 therein (see Figure 5). Bolt 25 is provided with a handle 2'? for laterally swinging the strap 23 about its pivot within the limits provided by slot 26. At the lower end of strap 23 is a narrowed portion 23 extending into an opening in a detent it suitably secured to the upper surface of cover '3 for limiting sliding movement thereover. Detent 29 is receivable in any of a plurality of notches 39 in a vertically extending latch member 3! secured at its upper and lower ends to carriers H and it by bolts 32 and 33, respectively. Detent 2-9 is biased in the direction of latch member for reception in one of the notches 35 thereof by a spring 34 anchored to posts 35 and 86, provided on strap 23 and end wall 4 respectively (see Figures 4 and 5) By manipulation of handle 2? the detent 29 may be released from latching position with respect to member 3! so that the guides 54 may be moved upon the posts 9.

The operating mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention includes a conventional electric motor 3? supplied with energy through a plug and socket connection indicated at 33, and controlled from a switch 39 secured to the end wall 4. Motor 3'! drives a vertically extending shaft 351a, preferably at a rate of approximately ninety revolutions per minute, although, if desired, suitable change-speed mechanism may be provided. The upper end of drive shaft 3% extends through the cover a and has mounted thereupon a rotary disk 56 having a cam surface ll, which functions in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Secured to the disk H3 for rotation therewith is a pivot bolt #32 having rotatively connected therewith a longitudinally extending link 43, the

other end of which is similarly mounted upon a pin ta. Pin is affixed to a reciprocating member 45 slidable upon a track indicated at it comprising laterally spaced rails bolted to the cover I. A groove 28 is provided in the outer side of each rail 4'? to serve as guides for bolts :39 carried by member 15, and prevent dislocation of the latter. A longitudinally extending gripping member 55 is slidably'mounted be tween the rails ll and is movable relative to member 415. At this point it should be clear that operation of the motor 3? and rotation of disk it carrying the pivot bolt Q2 results in reciprocation of member i5 at a rate dictated by the speed of operation of the motor.

Gripper member includes a main body 5% having a jaw portion 52, and a relatively movable arm 53 having a mating jaw portion Arm 53 is pivctally mounted upon the main body 5% by a bolt 55, and a spring 5t urges arm 53 in a direction away from the main body St to hold the jaws 52 and 5t normally out of grippin relation. Periodic overcoming of the bias of spring 56 to close the jaws of gripper 5% is accomplished by a mechanism including a link 5? pivoted upon a bolt 58 seated in the main body 5! cl gripper. 5E3. Secured to one end of link M by a bolt 59 is a roller to (see Figure 5) arranged to engage the outer surface of arm 53. The other end of link 52' is connected by a pivot bolt 6! to a link 532, the other end or which is pivoted upon a pin 63 seated in a reciprocable member S having bolts 65 slidably received in the grooves 48 in rails 41, and independently slidable with respect to gripper 5B and member 45.

Connection is" made between r ciprocable members til and 5 by a link 66 having one end mounted upon the pin it and provided at its other end with a hook 6'? engageable with pin 53 on member 6 Pivotal movement or" link 55 about pin it is limited by a pin 63 seated in reciprocating member 45, and received in a slot 59 in link 65. Hook link 56 is biased to engaged position with respect to the pin 53 by a spring 18 anchored to the link and to the member 45. At this point it should be understood that upon rotation of cam disc ii} from the position shown in Figure 2 the reciprocable member 45 is retracted and moves away from memberfid until hook 67 of link at engages pin 53, whereupon member, 64- is likewise retracted. Retraction of member at swings link 5'! about its pivot and closes the jaws 52 and 54.

Referring now particularly to Figures 4, 6 and Q 7, it may be noted that printing plate I8 is provided with a number of keeper slots or pockets H, adapted to receive a control element or tab 72 in the manner indicated in Figure 4 and in cross-section in Figure '7. Tab 12 comprises a head 13, preferably of a distinctive color orbearing other identification to indicate the operation to be actuated when the printing plate carrying the tab is fed to a printing machine. Tab 12 also includes a stem 14 and a spring tongue 15 which is bent outwardly upon insertion of the tab in one of the pockets ll, due to its curvature, and

engages the wall 16 thereof, as shown in Figure 7.

The tab cannot now be removed unless pressure is placed upon the tongue 15 to bring it back into alinement with the body of the tab, without damaging or destroying the tab.

In Figure 4 a printing plate l8 carrying a tab 12 is shown in position for insertion in the tab pulling machine, the position of the tab corresponding to the selected position shown on the indicator in Figure i. In Figure 2 the printing plate is fully inserted to operative position for withdrawal of the tab 72 with the gripper in The resultant relieved the pressure of roller 60 on arm 53 to permit spring 55 to move jaw portion 54 away from jaw 52. tab '12 is received between the gripper jaws and the jaws are now ready to close for withdrawal of the tab upon the return stroke of the gripper. To remove the tab 12 it is now necessary to disengage the spring tongue 15 from the wall 16 of slot ll and return it to alinement with the main body of the tab, as indicated in Figure 8. This is accomplished by mechanism now to be described.

A lever 19 is pivotally mounted medially of its ends upon a pin cc seated in cover 1 for rocking movement about a vertical axis, and is provided adjacent one end with a cam follower in the form of a roller 8! (see Figure 4) urged into engagement with the periphery of disk 48 by a spring 82 anchored to the end of the lever 19 and to the cover 1. The other end of the lever is provided with a post 83 having an opening therein threaded to receive a screw 84 adjustable therein, and arranged to engage a trigger device indicated generally at 85, and comprising a block 86 pivoted medially of its ends upon a :bolt 81 seated in cover 1. One end of block 86 overlaps and engages one side of gripper 50 at the forward end thereof, is resiliently held thereagainst by a compression spring 88 anchored at one end to an angle bracket 89, bolted to cover I, and engaging block 86 at a location rearwardly removed from its pivot 81. Block 86 has secured thereto one end of a leaf spring 90, the other end of which parallels a narrowed portion 9i of the block to provide for oscillatory movement of the free end of the spring. A triangularly shaped hammer 92 is pivotally secured by a bolt 92a to a flange 92b on block 86. Hammer 92 engages the free end of spring 90, and oscillatory movement of the latter is adjustably limited in one direction by a screw 93 extending through the narrowed portion 9|, the spring being depressed by the turning of the hammer upon its pivot.

In this position the headtlt ofaziaeoc and with the tab 12 received between the jaws 52 and 54, the cam follower 8! has ridden upon cam surface 4! of the disk, rocking lever 19 about its pivot 86. The forward end of the lever has swung laterally and screw 84 has engaged the narrow portion 9! of trigger block 86, as indicated in Figure 2, and in detail in Figure 8. In Figure 8 it will be seen that hammer 92 has engaged spring tongue 15 and pressed it into alinement with the body of the tab 12 so that the tab can be withdrawn from its seat in printing plate IS, the hammer 92 being held in its deflected position until cam follower. 8| has left cam surface 4! of the disk.

Rotation of the disk from the position shown in Figure 2 starts the reciprocable member on its return stroke. This takes up the lost motion in the connecting linkage between member 45 and gripper and brings hook '51 into engagement with pin 63 carried by member 64. Link 5'! is rocked counter-clockwise to close the jaws 52 and 54upon the head of tab 12, starting gripper 5! upon its return stroke. The tab is retained in the jaws of the gripper until the limit of the return stroke is reached, as shown in .Figure 3,'and another advance stroke initiated.

Upon member 45 again overtaking and abutting member 64, link 51 is rocked clockwise and jaws 52 and 54 separate, releasing tab 12, which drops through an opening 94 in the cover I to a receptacle in the form of a removable drawer 95 therebelow, shown in section in Figure 5. Drawer 95 is provided with a handle 96 for removal and emptying thereof when filled. When a tab is encountered which has been damaged or improperly seated in the carrier and resists normal removal, the hook link 66, upon encountering pin 63, swings laterally against the bias of the spring Til away from the pin within the limits permitted by the slot 69 and rolls upon the curved .edge ofthe hook portion 61, returning to hooking is retracted. Rocking of the hammer is resilient-. ly inhibited by spring pressing against the base thereof. Likewise, if a plate is inserted in the machine when the parts are in the position indicated in Figure 2, that is, with hammer 92 advanced as in Figure 8, the hammer rocks upon its pivot against the bias of the spring and does not interfere with thepassage of the plate.

The functionof the lost motion between member 45 and gripper 59 will become clear from the following: InFigureZ the point of pivotal connection 32 is beginning to move in the direction of the arrow. At first, its longitudinal movement is slow due to the fact it is traveling in an arc and moves laterally as well as longitudinally.

As soon as its predominant movement becomes longitudinal the speed of movement of the hook link 66 increases rather suddenly, the hook engages pin 63 and jaws 52 and54 clamp upon and pull the tab 12. Upon the return stroke the suddenness with whichmember 45 engages mem- The operating mechanism of the tab pulling machine is protected by a canopy 9'1 secured to the cover "i by bolts 98 and spaced therefrom by sleeves 9%. The canopy is provided with vertically extending portion see at its forward end, secured to bracket 8.

Pdnting plates l8 may be fed to the machine rapidly and easily in synchronism with the cycle of operation thereof. Further, the removal of the spring-held tab from the printing plate or carrier is accomplished efliciently and without the damage to printing plates and tabs incident to th crude manually operable devices hereto fore employed. It should be understood, of course, that hav ing described m invention in its preferred embodiment, various modifications may be made therein without departing: from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is desired that my invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for pulling tabs and the like from a carrier, comprising a support, a work holder on the support arranged to receive and position the tab carrier, means serving as a track on the support, a member slidable on the track; drive means on the support including a driven disk, a link pivotally connecting said member to the disk at a location removed from its axis to reciprocate the member, a gripper slidacie on the track, means connecting the member to the gripper for reciprocation thereof, said connecting means including lost motion means for momentarily immobilizing the gripper at each end of its stroke, opposed jaws on the gripper arranged to receive the tab therebetween, means oiasing the jaws to open position, and means associated with said lost motion con necting means for closing the jaws.

2. A machine for pulling tabs and the like from a carrier, comprising a support, a work holder on the support arranged to receive and on the tab carrier, a reciprocable member port, drive m ans on the support for emprcc ting the reciprocable member, a tab gripper, means connecting the member to the g per for reciprocation of the latter therewith from a retracted position to an advanced position in operative relation with a tab to be pulled, opposed jaws carried by the gripper for engaging the tab, means biasing the jaws to open position, means connecting the member and the gripper inclu- .ng lost motion means permitting predeter ned movement of the reciprocable member in inch direction prior to movement of the gripper, and means associated with the said lost r3... n means for opening and closing said jaws.

3. A machine for pulling a locked tab or the like vfrom a 'carier to'which it is releasably locked, comprising a support, a work holder on the support arranged to receive and position the er and tafo, a reciprocating gripping mechaincluding relatively movable jaws, drive i"" ms f r reciprocating the gripping mechanism, e means including a rotary disk, means sing and opening the jaws during reciprocation thereof to withdraw and release the tab,

ms for unlocking the tab to permit withal thereof, and means on the disk operable periodically during rotation thereof to actuate the unlocking means.

4. A machine for pulling a locked tab or the like from .a carrier to which it is releasably locked, comprising a support, a work holder on the support arranged to receive and position the carrier and tab, a reciprocating gripping mechanism including relatively movable jaws, drive means for reciprocating the gripping mechanism, said drive means including a rotary disc, means for closing and opening the jaws during reciprocation thereof to withdraw and release the tab, means for unlocking the tab to permit withdrawal thereof, and a cam surface on the disk operable during rotation thereof to periodically actuat the unlocking means.

5. A machine for pulling a locked tab or the like from a carrier to which it is releasably locked, comprising a support, a work holder arranged to receive and position the carrier and tab, a reciprocating mechanism including means serving as a clamp, drive means for the reciprocating mechanism, means operated by the drive means for actuating the clamping means to remove the tab, means independent of the clamping means for unlocking the tab to permit removal thereof, and means operated by the drive means for actuating the unlocking means.

6. A machine for pulling a locked tab or the like from a carrier to which it is releasably locked, comprising a support, a work holder arranged to receive and position the carrier and tab, a recipr .cating mechanism including means serving as a clamp, drive means for the reciproeating mechanism, means operated by the drive means for actuating the clamping means to remove the tab, means for unlocking the tab to permit removal thereof, means operated by the drive means for actuating the unlocking means, and a lost motion connection between the re ciprocating mechanism and the clamping means, whereby the clamping means is temporarily immobilized during operation of the unlocking means.

7. A machine for pulling a locked tab or the like from a carrier to which it is releasably locked, comprising a support, a work holder arranged to receive and position the carrier and tab, a reciprocating mechanism including pulling means, drive means for the reciprocating mechanism, means for actuating the pulling means during reciprocation thereof to remove the tab, unlocking means includin a trigger device operable upon actuation of the pulling means to remove the tab and engageable with he tab lock for disengaging the latter from looking relation with the carri r, and means for actuating the trigger device.

8. A machine for pulling a locked tab or the like from a carrier to which it is releasably iocked, comprising a support, work holder arranged to receive and position the carrier and tab, a reciprocating mechanism eluding pulling means, drive mean for the reciprocating mechanism including rotatable disk, means for actuating the pulling means to remove the tab, unlocking means including atrigger device engageable with the tab lock for disengaging the latter from looking relation with the carrier, ope-ating means for the trigger, a surface on the disk, and a cam follower carried by the trigger operating means for ciiecting periodic actuation of the trigger.

9. A machine for pulling a tab or the like having a flexible tongue member cooperable with the carrier for holding the tab therein comprising a support, a work holder arranged to receive and position the carrier and tab, a reciprocating.

mechanism including pulling means, drive means for the reciprocating mechanism, means operated by the drive means for actuating the pulling means during reciprocation thereof to remove the tab, a trigger device including a hammer operable upon actuation of the pulling means to remove the tab and engageable with the fiexible tongue member for the tab for releasing the latter, and means operated by the drive means for actuating the trigger device.

10. A machine for pulling tabs and the like from a carrier comprising a support, a work holder on the support arranged to receive and position the tab carrier, means serving as a track on the support, a member slidable on the track, drive means on the support for reciprocating the member, a gripper slidable on the track for seizing the tab, and connecting means between the member and the gripper for reciprocating the latter to seize and withdraw the tab, said connecting means being yieldable upon failure of the gripper to dislodge the tab.

11. In an apparatus for pulling tabs 01' the like from a carrier, a reciprocable member, a

gripper for seizing the tab, and connecting means between the reciprocable member and the gripper for reciprocating the latter to withdraw the tab, said connecting means being yieldable upon encountering resistance to withdrawal of the tab.

12. In an apparatus for pulling tabs or the like from a carrier, a reciprocable member, a gripper for Withdrawing the tab including 0pposed jaws, connecting means between the reciprocable member and the gripper for reciprocating the latter, means associated with the gripper and operable during reciprocation thereof for closing and opening the jaws to respectively withdraw and release the tab, said connecting means being yieldable when abnormal resistance to withdrawal of the tab is encountered.

13. In an apparatus for pulling from a carrier a tab or the like having locking means cooperable with the carrier for holding the tab therein, a reciprocable member, a gripper for seizing the tab, connecting means between the reciprocable member and the gripper for reciprocating the latter to withdraw the tab, and means operable during reciprocation of the member for unlocking said locking means to permit withdrawal of the tab, said connecting means being yieldable when abnormal resistance to withdrawal of the tab is encountered.

14. A machine for pulling tabs and the like from a carrier comprising a work holder arranged to receive and position the carrier and tab, a gripper reciprocable to and from an operating position with respect to the tab, said gripper having jaws for seizing the tab upon retraction thereof, a member movable in directions corresponding to the advancing and retracting strokes of the gripper, means for movin the movable member, said member being movable through the first part of its advancing and retracting strokes at one speed and through the second part of said strokes at a relatively higher speed, a connection between the movable member and the gripper for reciprocating the latter, means operable through the first part of the members advancing and retracting stroke for maintaining said jaws respectively closed and open, and means operable in the second part of saidstrokes for respectively opening and closing said jaws.

HARRY H. HYDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,076,173 Todd Oct. 21, 1913 1,748,720 Lafierty Feb. 25, 1930 2,016,101 Towne Oct. 1, 1935 2,163,716 Turner June 27, 1939 

